Parking tickets to be disrupted as Hackney traffic wardens set to strike over pay in May

Parking tickets to be disrupted as Hackney traffic wardens set to strike over pay in May

The issuing of parking tickets could be disrupted in Hackney, east London, when the borough’s traffic wardens take two days of strike action in May in a dispute over pay.

Unite, the country’s largest union, said that the nearly 40 wardens, also known as civil enforcement officers (CEOs), would strike for 48 hours from 00:01 on Monday 14 May, after voting by 100 per cent for industrial action.

Today (Friday 27 April), the union called for immediate constructive talks with APOCA Parking (UK) Ltd, which runs the service on behalf of the borough council, to reach a fair settlement before the two-day strike.

Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “It is clear that if the 48-hour strike goes ahead, as planned, the issuing of car parking tickets could be seriously disrupted – and motorists in Hackney may think that Christmas has come very early this year.”

The dispute centres over the claim for a cost of living increase of five per cent for the year starting April 2018; unfair implementation of sickness procedures; unfair and potentially discriminatory implementation of the annual holiday allocation; and the need to enhance the long service award.

Onay Kasab added: “The overwhelming majority of traffic wardens are on the London Living Wage (LLW) of £10.20 an hour. These workers, out in all weathers, only get the LLW uprate each year. So instead of being the minimum that employers should pay, the LLW becomes the maximum.

“We are arguing that each April there should be proper pay negotiations – with the aim of taking workers above the LLW. This is what happens in local government. Ironically, this contract is run by APCOA on behalf of Hackney council.”

Unite represents the vast majority of the CEOs working in Hackney.ENDS

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